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[recto:] Officer‟s Prison Fort Delaware Del July 17th 1864 My dear Wife I have written you several letters since I have been a prisoner + it adds much to my unpleasant position to think that it is not likely you have received any of them + may be in great distress about me[.] I can not however but hope some of them may have reached you + informed you of my unfortunate condition + releived your anxiety as to my being killed or wounded. I have written you several times as in regard to how I was captured + will not take space in this letter by informing you again. [I]t distressed me very much to think how long I had served as a private + that just as I had got into a position to serve with some comfort + credit to myself I should have been captured + all + my hopes in that respect blasted + my pleasant association with the men of my Co broken up, but you will say I ought to be thankful that my life has been spared. I am truly so, + am trying to bear this affliction with all the patience I am possessed of though I find this imprisonment hard to bear indeed, it seems to me it is the next worst thing to death, a short time after I was captured I was taken with a violent attack of disentery with which I suffered much + stayed in the hospital nearly 2 weeks [.] I am nearly well now + hope I may continue so. I have received $100 00 from one of Fathers friends which will releive my necessities very much, send word to the families of Lt W P Bormey, Capt Elisha J [Glale?], (near Rocky Mount) Lt J L McCrorey (Gladdens Grove) + Cap William Stewart (Lancaster) that they are all here + well[.] [I]f this letter reaches you reply by the same route. I can not write you in M a letter through the chanel that this does as fully I would wish + you must content yourself with the knowledge that I am well + hope for the best. Write me very often wether you think the letters will reach me or not. May God bless you + my dear little boys[.] Your Devoted Husband Lt W E Johnson Co [K?] 7 th So Cavelry

Prisoner of War Fort Delaware Del

Creation Date

7-17-1864

City

Fort Delaware, Pea Patch Island

County

New Castle County

State/Province

Delaware

Country

United States

Creator Life Dates

1827-1897

Keywords

W.E. Johnson, letter, soldier, Civil War

Date Digital

2013

Document Type

Manuscript

Disciplines

American Studies | Military History | Other Rhetoric and Composition | Political History | Social History | United States History